Business Associations Development Program (CIPE Methodology)

Business associations are a critical stakeholder in this process, as they are the voice of business and are able to express the interests and ideas of the business community in a professional and coherent manner. The Government of Georgia (GoG) and other policy makers rely on business associations as trusted partners. To support the advancement of Georgian business associations, the USAID | Governing for Growth (G4G) program has developed a One-Day Adviser Program. This program aims to increase the capabilities of business associations, enable them to better serve their members, and ultimately achieve sustainability. Three local business associations participated in the program: the European Business Association Georgia (EBA), the Georgian Women Business Council (GWBC), and the Georgian Association for Quality (GAQ). The One-Day Adviser Program involved individual sessions with a Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) expert in association management. The expert guided and advised the associations on how to increase their capabilities, better serve their members, accomplish their mission, and reach sustainability. Each association developed a topic outline featuring their main areas of interest, and the expert facilitated individual sessions to address these topics and concerns. The approach for this assignment involved identifying and selecting three candidates for the program, conducting upfront activities, conducting the One-Day Adviser Program in Tbilisi and remotely, and preparing a recommendation report for each association. The program aimed to help the associations become strong and effective players in the public-private dialogue. Business associations are critical stakeholders for the development of a sound business community in Georgia. They are the voice of businesses and are a major part of public-private dialogue, being an active partner for the government and other policy makers. They can contribute solutions and recommendations in policy making, and need to prove they are credible, professional, and respected organizations able to provide good advice and professional recommendations. G4G is committed to building the capacity of a larger number of Georgian business associations and helping them become strong advocates for their members' interests. To reach this goal, G4G developed a two-fold strategy: issuing a grant activity to strengthen the capacity of five business associations and developing a One-Day Adviser Program for three business associations. The Georgian civil society landscape is complex, with a mix of organizations created over the last decade and new ones established in response to recent political and economic trends. The ultimate goal of the mentorship program is to help these organizations become strong and effective players in the public-private dialogue. CIPE has extensive experience working with business associations in transitioning economies, helping them develop their capabilities, meet members' needs and expectations, and become sustainable organizations. The approach for this assignment involved identifying and selecting three candidates for the program, conducting upfront activities, and conducting the One-Day Adviser Program in Tbilisi and remotely. The program aimed to increase the capabilities of business associations, enable them to better serve their members, and ultimately achieve sustainability. The expert facilitated individual sessions to address the associations' main areas of interest and concerns, and prepared a recommendation report for each association. The program aimed to help the associations become strong and effective players in the public-private dialogue. The USAID | Governing for Growth (G4G) program has a long-term commitment to building the capacity of Georgian business associations and helping them become strong advocates for their members' interests. The program aims to create a sound business community in Georgia, where business associations are credible, professional, and respected organizations able to provide good advice and professional recommendations.